79571043012 Kenmore Freezer - Instructions

The spring broke on the flapper (mullion) on my refrigerator. I sent a chat message to PartsSelect (they answered right away) to see if they had a replacement spring but it was not available so had to order the whole mullion. They gave me the part # I would have to order. It arrived quickly. The new mullion didn’t have a visible spring but it worked the same if not better. I just had to remove 2 screws on the center plate on the existing mullion, pull the plate out enough so you will be able to slide the mullion (the wires are under the plate kind of like the ones you see on a ceiling smoke detector) but you can’t get under the plate until you release the mullion. Push up on the mullion so that the plastic tabs on the top and bottom are released. Once the mullion is released (you have to hold it), you’ll see the wires. Unhook the wire part by just pushing down on the little tab and remove it. To install the new one, just reverse the steps. Align the top and bottom plastic tabs to fit into the slots, just enough to hold it in place. If the plastic tabs are not already flipped out, you’ll have to just flip them out. The top tab does not have tension but the bottom tab has tension so just push on it with your finger to flip it out. The plate covering the electrical is a rather tight fit and you have to make sure the little tab on the inside of the plate is above and behind the tab on the inside where the wires are so it slides behind it so you can get it in position before sliding the mullion back down into place and the electrical plate is in place too. Then screw the 2 screws back in. The hardest part is holding the mullion while un-attaching the electrical and just make sure you stuff the wires in enough so you can get the plate back in position. I’m a 75 yr old woman and managed fine by myself. At first when installing the new one, I couldn’t slide the mullion down enough to get the electrical plate in position and then realized I had to have the little tab inside the electrical plate behind the tab inside the wire compartment so they didn’t hit one another when pushing the mullion back down. Then, all went fine.

Removed mullion strip with Phillips screwdriver replaced spring reinstalled the mullion strip all in about 15 minutes.

Unable to complete repair due to lack of response to emailed question concerning another spring. No picture of spring in question on website making it impossible to be sure of comparability without clarification. Unable to call currently due to no in person support. Just stuck now without an answer. Frustrating to say the least.

Followed instructions online

Watched the video. Took the screws out, unplugged the connection and slid mullion off. Then plugged the new one in, slid it on and attached the two screws.

Watched tube video about the repair
Ordered part
Performed repair as per the video

Pulled old gasket off by hand. New gasket was easy to install by pushing it into molded cutout in refrigerator door.
Very satisfying to have no glitches in the seamless installation.

Took 2 screws out and disconnect wire and install new part.

Replace with new switch. this is the third switch i have replaced in 10 years. the only part, besides a light bulb, that has gone bad. obviously this is a problem with this model for Kenmore, or just poor switch design.

Installed new one.

Read the reviews from other members and just did as they said. Needed a screw driver and the info from past persons review couldn’t have been easier.

Unplugged the frig and removed two phillip screws on flapper door of left door... Unplugged the electrical connector and removed flapper...
Picked up new flapper and snapped electrical contractor together... Slid new flapper bar into place and inserted two phillip screws... Job complete in 15 minutes...

I have moderate to good mechanical skills, but getting the old switch out was a sizeable challenge. Since this switch suffered some damage during extraction, I was lucky to have ordered a new one to replace it. Reinstall took approximately 90 seconds. PartSelect saved me an expensive service call.

Covered the sidewall with tape to protect. Pried the switch out with knife blade and removed electric plug with needle nose pliers. placed plug in new switch and pushed switch into the hole in the side wall. Took about five minutes.

Remove two screws on top of the fridge; removed old switch and inserted new switch. Worked like a charm. Replace casing and screws.